SF Personal Trainer Blog

FASTING FOR WEIGHT LOSS

We’ve all heard of this fad diet, many seem to advocate it as it require little food knowledge and no much thinking is required. Let me explain you briefly how it works.

The pros and cons might help you decide if it is something you want to give it a try. I personally never tested as some of the cons do not match well with my day and appetite.

Intermittent Fasting: this eating strategy cycles between periods of eating and periods of fasting. The content of your meals during eating periods is not a factor. Some cycle between eating and fasting each day, creating a small window for eating and fasting for at least 16 hours, while others cycle eating and fasting across several days, taking as much as 48 hours at a time to fast.

Pros: Humans have been fasting for thousands of years. Our bodies are well equipped to handle periods of fasting. Research shows that fasting produces benefits for disease prevention, metabolic health, weight loss and even life extension. Some find it less work to fast rather than to plan for several small meals. During eating periods you get to eat whatever you want. Again, no much nutritional knowledge is require as all you have to do is stay away from the dining table for the set amount of hours.

Cons: Abstaining from nourishment for long periods of time can be challenging, especially when food is all around you. Socially it can be awkward to skip meals while your friends and family break bread together. Some find themselves overeating during eating cycles, and some find the ongoing absence of food to aggravate food obsession and to produce an unbalanced focus on food.

You might also find quite hard to fast for so long when you are having an intense long day at work and you still training in the gym regularly.